Angela sat stiffly in the plush leather seat of Enzo's sleek black car, her mind racing with possibilities. She had spent the past few years trying to stay under the radar, yet somehow, tonight, everything felt as if it were spiraling out of control.
The soft hum of the engine filled the silence between them, and despite the luxurious comfort of the ride, she couldn't shake the unease gnawing at her insides.
"You're awfully quiet," Enzo remarked, his eyes focused on the road ahead, but the corner of his mouth quirked in amusement. "Scared?"
Angela shot him a glare. "Of you? Hardly."
Enzo chuckled, the deep timbre of his voice making her stomach twist in a way she didn't want to acknowledge. "Good. Because you should be more worried about them."
She followed his gaze to the side mirror, catching a glimpse of a dark SUV trailing them at a distance. Her heart skipped a beat. "Who are they?" she asked, her voice lower now.
Enzo's expression darkened. "Persistent pests. Let's just say your little stunt at the engagement ceremony put a few people on edge. And some... don't like disturbances in their carefully crafted plans."
Angela crossed her arms, leaning back into the seat. "So what, I ruin one event and suddenly I have stalkers?"
Enzo turned to her briefly, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "You have no idea how deep this game goes, do you?"
Angela swallowed hard but masked it with a scoff. "I don't care. I want out."
Enzo exhaled through his nose, clearly amused by her bravado. "And here I thought you were done running."
Angela bit her lip, choosing not to respond. She had spent too long trying to escape the suffocating grip of the Bradleys and the Vanghue legacy. But Enzo Lorenzo... he was something else entirely—something far more dangerous.
The car turned sharply, leaving the main streets and entering a dimly lit alleyway. Angela tensed. "Where are we going?"
Enzo's smirk didn't reassure her. "A safer place."
Angela frowned. "Define 'safe.' Because nothing about you screams safe to me."
He didn't answer, and before she could protest further, the car came to a stop. They were parked behind an unassuming brick building with no visible signage. Enzo got out first, opening her door before she could even think of bolting.
"Come on," he said, offering his hand. "Or you can stay here and wait for them to catch up."
Angela hesitated but took his hand reluctantly, stepping out. His touch was warm, firm—too firm. He wasn't going to let her go that easily.
As they stepped inside the building, Angela realized it wasn't just any hideout. The dim lighting revealed a high-end lounge, with several men in dark suits eyeing her suspiciously. Enzo led her straight to a private room in the back, locking the door behind them.
Angela folded her arms, leaning against the desk inside. "You really think locking me up will solve anything?"
Enzo studied her for a long moment before leaning in close, his scent of expensive cologne and danger making her heart pound faster than she liked.
"I'm not locking you up, Angela," he murmured. "I'm protecting my interests."
Angela's eyes narrowed. "I'm not your interest."
Enzo smirked again, his fingers brushing against her chin, tilting her face up to his. "You are now."
Angela pushed his hand away, glaring. "I don't need your protection. I just want my life back."
Enzo leaned against the desk beside her, watching her with those piercing eyes. "You lost your life the moment you stepped into this world, sweetheart. Whether you like it or not, you're in it now."
Angela sighed, rubbing her temples. "So what now? You expect me to sit tight while you play mafia babysitter?"
Enzo chuckled. "Not quite. But you might want to start taking this seriously. Because those men following you tonight? They weren't just any stalkers. They were sent by someone who wants you out of the picture—for good."
Angela's breath hitched. "Who?"
Enzo shrugged nonchalantly. "You'll find out soon enough. But for now... stay close. I'll deal with it."
Angela looked at him skeptically. "And why would you help me?"
Enzo's eyes darkened with something unreadable. "Because, Angela... whether you realize it or not, you're valuable. And I never let valuable things slip away."
Angela swallowed the lump in her throat, feeling the weight of his words settle heavily around her. She was in deep—far deeper than she ever imagined.
And Enzo Lorenzo was pulling her in even further.
---
Later that night...
Angela sat by the window of the lounge, staring out into the dark cityscape. She knew she had to think of a way out of this mess, but every time she did, Enzo's words haunted her.
"You're in it now."
Her hands clenched into fists. She couldn't afford to let him or anyone else dictate her fate. She had to fight back.
Angela pulled out her phone and started making a list of possible allies she could turn to. But deep down, she knew the truth—Enzo was right.
If she wanted to survive, she would have to play this game carefully.
And maybe... just maybe... she would have to trust the devil himself.
------
Angela gripped her phone tightly, scrolling through her dwindling list of contacts. Most of the names were people she hadn't spoken to in years, and the ones she did trust were either too far away or too afraid to get involved. She sighed, resting her forehead against the cool glass of the window.
"You won't find any solutions staring out there," Enzo's voice cut through the silence, smooth and confident.
Angela turned, her blue eyes narrowing at him. He stood in the doorway of the private lounge, his tailored suit fitting him like a second skin, exuding power and control. Everything about him screamed trouble, and she didn't need more of that in her life.
"Then maybe you should let me leave," she said sharply, crossing her arms defensively.
Enzo chuckled, stepping closer. "And go where? Back to the wolves waiting outside? Or perhaps you'll try running again and end up right back in my path."
Angela's jaw clenched. He wasn't wrong. No matter how much she wanted to escape, the world she was entangled in had its claws in her too deep.
"Why are you doing this?" she demanded. "You could've just let me be."
Enzo's dark eyes locked onto hers, a flicker of something unreadable in them. "Because you've made yourself a liability, sweetheart. And I don't like loose ends."
Angela swallowed the lump in her throat. "So what? You're planning to keep me locked up here forever?"
Enzo smirked, leaning against the desk in the center of the room. "Not exactly. I have a proposition for you."
Angela's brows furrowed, curiosity sparking despite her better judgment. "What kind of proposition?"
Enzo's gaze darkened, his lips curling into a knowing smile. "You need protection. I need someone who can... disrupt my enemies from the inside."
Angela scoffed. "So, what? You want me to be your little spy?"
"More like a distraction," he corrected, taking a step closer. "A fake marital spouse.You have a talent for creating chaos, Angela. I've seen it firsthand. Why not put it to good use?"
Angela shook her head, running a hand through her hair. "You're insane if you think I'd help you with whatever shady business you're running."
Enzo tilted his head, studying her carefully. "Then what's your plan, princess? Walk out of here and pretend none of this happened? We both know you can't go back to your old life."
She opened her mouth to argue, but the words died on her lips. He was right. There was no going back.
"You don't trust me," Angela said finally.
Enzo's lips twitched. "I don't trust anyone. But I do know opportunity when I see it."
Angela exhaled heavily, pacing around the room. Every fiber of her being screamed at her to walk away, but deep down, she knew she needed protection. If what Enzo said was true, then there were people out there who wanted her gone.
"What do I get out of this?" she asked, turning to face him.
Enzo's smile widened. "Your life. And maybe... a shot at taking back what was stolen from you."
Angela stiffened at his words. He knew more about her past than he was letting on.
She swallowed her pride and crossed the room, standing toe-to-toe with him. "Fine," she said. "But let's get one thing straight—I'm not your pawn, and I don't take orders easily."
Enzo's eyes gleamed with something dangerously close to amusement. "Oh, I wouldn't expect anything less."
Angela held out her hand. "Deal?"
Enzo hesitated for a moment before grasping her hand in his firm grip. "Deal."
As soon as their hands parted, Angela muttered under her breath, "I'm going to regret this, aren't I?"
Enzo chuckled darkly. "Probably."
---
Later that night...
Angela sat on the edge of the hotel bed, staring at the envelope Enzo had tossed at her earlier. Inside were documents, photos, and a burner phone—everything she needed to assume her new role in his twisted game.
Her fingers hovered over the phone. Should she call for help? But who could she trust anymore?
With a deep breath, she pushed the phone away and focused on the documents instead. The first photo made her stomach drop—Bradley. Her ex-fiancé, laughing with men she didn't recognize. Men who looked like trouble.
Angela's fingers tightened around the paper. Maybe Enzo was right. Maybe she had been naive to think she could escape unscathed.
A knock at the door startled her out of her thoughts. She stood cautiously, opening it to find Enzo leaning against the doorframe, an amused smirk on his face.
"Having second thoughts already?" he teased.
Angela rolled her eyes. "No. Just wondering how deep this rabbit hole goes."
Enzo leaned closer, his voice a whisper against her ear. "Deep enough to drown you, sweetheart. So tread carefully."
Angela swallowed, steeling herself. "I'll survive. I always do."
Enzo's smirk softened, just a fraction. "We'll see about that." The marriage contract would be drafted out tomorrow.
As he turned and walked away, Angela shut the door, her heart pounding. She had just made a deal with the devil himself.
she would have to sign a marriage contract with him, a relationship without love only bonded by duties.
And she had a feeling there was no turning back now.
--